It was morning.

She knew it, just as always. The feeling that tugged her spirit awake was at it again, starting out with a slight force. Suntelesis, as she liked to refer to it, would never let her sleep in. Beginning at the base of her horn, it dragged her awake with building strength and sparked a flame in her mind.

Suntelesisesis was a tricky thing, as she had grown to learn. It was like treading on thin ice--one wrong hoofstep would cause a slip into an icy pool. She could already feel spiderweb cracks spreading on top of the frozen ice.

The white alicorn sighed at the belligerent sun, and sat up within her silver-lined sheets. Now, she wasn't the type to waste time, unlike her dear Luna. Honestly, that mare could spend hours talking her muzzle off all for the sake of procrastination, and still be absolutely adorable while doing it.

No, Celestia simply wanted to take a moment to relish in the state of serenity her room held while cloaked in the dark of night. While her day would always hold a special place in her heart, Luna's night was a wondrous feeling of peace and fantasy.

She took in a deep breath of the room air, tinged with the familiar dusty scent of books and scrolls.  She placed her white hooves upon the shadowed floor and tipped herself out of bed.

Celestia made her way to the balcony. The summer night was cool and still, its stars an astounding piece of artwork across the sky. She could see the city of Canterlot sprawling out beneath her balcony as specks of golden light.

"Good morning, my little ponies," she whispered fondly, trailing her hoof over the railing and letting the wind play with the ends of her mane.

With a gentle yellow glow, Celestia reached out in her magic to the infinitely far away horizon, and closed her eyes. She could feel the warmth of the sun coursing through her veins, with the strength of its fiery body fueling her mind. She inhaled deeply and smiled as the golden rays began to spill over the city, warming her coat and her soul.

The inky blackness of the atmosphere gave way as an indigo streak seeped through the stars and a fiery orb peeked over the horizon.

That was all it needed; a little nudge in the right direction to get it going. Now the sun would continue its slow rise across the sky until it needed herher aid to sink back  into darkness.

Celestia waved a wing at the sun like a long-lost friend, before turning around to her now lighted room.

"Hmmm," she murmured. Her stomach rumbled lightly. Well, time for breakfast.

Celestia creaked open her door and waved hello to the guards outside her room.

They remained stoic, but she could notice their eyes dancing in greeting. Celestia smiled at them, and clopped down the hallway to the staircase. Sometimes, when she grew utterly bored of the politics and the delegates that surrounded her day, she would simply stand at the top of the stairs and gaze at the diamond chandelier.

But today wasn't that day, as she could smell the enticing scent of fresh pancakes being made. Surely one of the cooks had prepared it?

Celestia flicked her hair over her shoulder and trotted, in a most unladylike fashion, down the steps to the royal kitchen area.

Across the room, seating at the long chocolate brown table was a smaller midnight blue alicorn.

"Luna!" Celestia called out joyfully, running over to nuzzle her sister affectionately. Luna blushed, pushing back from her sibling's attack of hugs.

"Good morning, dear sister," Luna remarked, giving Celestia a grin before shoving a stack of pancakes in her mouth. "How did you sleep?"

Celestia pulled up a chair and nodded. "Oh, very well, Lulu. But may I ask why you're still up?" She smiled at the look on Luna's face.

"Why, is it a crime to want to make a delicious meal of pancakes for one's sister before retiring to bed?" She forked over one of the pancakes to her sister’s plate.

Celestia faked a gasp. This was too precious. "Really? Oh, I am shocked that you would consider me incapable of getting my own breakfast!"

Luna's mouth flapped open, and Celestia giggled. She reached out a hoof and dipped it into a bowl of whipped cream beside the plates.

"Calm down. I am pleasantly surprised that you would do this. Pancakes are just what I needed today,” she said, booping the mare on the nose.

While Luna frantically wiped the whipped cream off her flushing face, Celestia dug into her meal with a sigh. "I don't know how you make these so well, Lulu. Even the cooks would be rivaled by your skills.”

Luna laughed merrily, levitating her fork up for a bite. They continued to eat in a comfortable silence, that only sisters could have. Celestia heard a sigh from Luna.

Celestia glanced up, noticing her sister’s mood change. “Lulu,” she began. “How was Night Court?" The question was met with a light sigh.

"It was ... different than most, I would say, Tia. Unfortunately the problem from a few moons ago has grown worse," she muttered.

Celestia furrowed her brow in worry. "You mean---"

"Yes," Luna breathed slowly. "The Thestrals still refuse to see reason. They wish to break away from the tax fees, saying they are of a different species and colony. But I can't Tia. As much as it pains me, they are in our border, and therefore need to abide by the laws of our country. They are a large group, so to speak, and to lose that much money..." She trailed off with a grimace.

Celestia bit her lip, swallowing quickly. "Is tomorrow night the official court?" she asked. Her sister nodded solemnly, as if already resigned to her fate. Celestia reached forward and placed a hoof on her warm shoulder with a comforting smile.

"Whatever happens, I'm sure you'll make the right decision," she said kindly. "And if not, I am always here for you when you return."

Luna smiled gratefully. "Thank you," she replied simply, brushing back her blue hair from her muzzle. "That would help a lot, Tia. But whatever about you?"

Celestia groaned quietly. "I have a meeting with the delegates from Griffonstone today at noon." She took a sip of coffee.

The sisters sat in a tense minute of contemplative quiet, staring down at their food. Luna stood up suddenly and pushed back her chair.

"Well, it's time for me to return to bed in preparation for Night Court," Luna yawned. She turned around, quickly shoving another pancake in her mouth.

"Wait," Celestia started.

Luna raised her eyebrow. "What?"

With her wings forming a heart shape, Celestia grinned. "Love ya."

The moon princess's groans echoed down the hallway.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Yes, of course ambassador. I'll be sure to schedule it for the colonies on the third moon." Celestia pulled open the doors with a burst of magic, and allowed the ponies to walk by her. A certain brown coated stallion gave her a curt nod.

Celestia kept a pleasant smile on her face until the double doors had slammed shut. Then her shoulder fell and she slumped against the wall. That had taken ages. But at least she could finally relax during her favorite part of the day, where many of her burdening worries flew out the window.

The alabaster mare straightened up and her face twisted slightly. Her hoof groped aimlessly around her chest, and she groaned. It was just a small inconvenience--nothing to worry about. Although her chest pain had been a bit distracting during the meeting, it was just a little annoyance from overeating, no doubt.

Celestia nodded her head in agreement to herself, and let her hoof drop from her chest. It was fine. She trotted with only a slight limp up her crystal staircase, and made it back to her bedroom. The room was a bit drab with only the fading evening light, but with a flick of her magic, a fire burned in the large hearth.

Celestia glanced around at the coziness of the room, its light yellow walls, framed pictures and hardwood floors.

She levitated her favorite pink blanket from the corner, and settled by the hearth on a lilac rug from Fillydelphia. With the warmth of the flickering fire, Celestia took out her paperwork and a long quill. "Hmmm," she mused to herself. "Cloudsdale, Manehattan, Saddle Arabia..."

The hours ticked by slowly, but calmly, as she worked through the problems of the other nations and pleas for the Princesses.

Just as she was about to call it a night, a loud pop filled her ears, followed by a spark of green light. Celestia found her face blessed with a smile, and picked up the letter that fell to her lap. "Ah, Twilight," she said smoothly, breaking the red seal upon the paper.

Dear Princess Celestia,

I am very pleased to inform you that I helped somepony else learn the magic of friendship! This morning I have taught it to a young friend of mine! Sweetie Belle, the sister of Rarity, had a situation that we had had failed to notice for a while. She was being bullied by a new student colt, who teased her endlessly about her weight.

In her eyes, it was different because her friends weren’t there to share the harassment with her. Rarity picked up on it when Sweetie stopped eating and constantly refused food. She, as the good friend she is, came and informed me of the problem.

At first I was unsure how to approach it, but when I told Cheerilee about it, she invited me to give a speech about how hurtful harassment could be. When I was a little filly, ponies would pick on me due to the fact that I always had my muzzle stuck in a book, so I knew what it was like.

The presentation had just the effect Cheerilee had hoped for; Sweetie Belle finally worked up the courage to talk to her teacher. They confronted the bully. Somehow, ever so slowly, Sweetie and the colt are starting to become a bit more friendly! I can hope that will hopefully blossom into a friendship for the two of them.

Anyway, I hope your evening is peaceful and relaxing. And I was wondering if you might want to join me for tea tomorrow?

Twilight Sparkle.

Celestia folded up the letter, chuckling slightly. Oh, Twilight. Such a sweetheart. She still sends me letters even in her princesshood? She pulled out her own letter and wrote a quick reply.

Dear Twilight,

Of course, I would be delighted to join you for tea! How does 3:00 sound? I might be able to convince my guards to let me out, as long as I'm in no danger.

Yours Truly,

Celestia

Yes, tea sounded lovely.  Celestia stretched out her forelegs----when her chest pain spasmed for a moment, like a small shock in her muscles. Her breathing hitched. Ouch. Most likely just gas or something of the sort, she thought wryly with a wince. Perhaps she could have tea tonight as well to ease her discomfort, seeing as one could never have too much of the wonderful drink.

Chamomile tea, being her all time favorite, seemed like just the thing she needed. Celestia found her tea bags beneath the kitchen sink, and brewed up a fresh cup for bed. She brought it back to her room with a small sigh as she pushed open the door. It was time to set the sun.

Celestia stood out on her small balcony, breathing in the dusk air. Lowering her sun was always a bit depressing for her, like saying goodbye to a friend. As the princess reached out and brought the sun down, a tinge of sadness gripped her heart. On this night, the sorrow seemed almost deeper, but she shook it off. The dusk faded to a crisp night.

Celestia stood still, smiling sadly as her sun departed and the silver moon rose above the horizon. Luna would be awake now, preparing for her night. "Goodnight, my subjects."

Now with a warm cup of tea in her grasp, Celestia pulled back her blankets and settled into bed with a sigh. She took a sip. Perhaps the tea did nothing to soothe the ache, and instead Celestia just liked to fancy that it did. She felt her hooves place the tea on a stand beside the bed, and her head hit the pillow, but she wasn't really paying attention. Her eyes slipped closed and her breathing slowed.

Celestia drifted into sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~

"Oh, I haven't slept this well since I was a filly!" Fresh, rejuvenated and simply alive! Although a heavy darkness still pressed around her, Celestia smiled and stretched.

Had the tea been the cure after all? Her chest pain had disappeared. It seemed to have done wonders for her body: she felt like she was a young foal again, romping in the fields with Luna!

"Hmm, no Suntelesis?" she pondered. Maybe she had woken up earlier than the sun's call. Celestia reached her hoof up to tug the blankets over her head, but was met with empty air.

That was the first sign that something was wrong.

Celestia's magenta eyes flew open and her head jerked up. Not that it made a difference, as the suffocating darkness was still there, nothing but a pitch black emptiness.

That was the second sign.

Celestia wanted to scream; she was ready for it. Her mouth hung open and her lungs expanded--

but she stopped herself. There was no use in screaming like a foal, when she just needed to think.

She sat up, groping around in the black. Had somepony kidnapped her? Where was her bed?

"Hello?" Celestia called, almost feeling foolish. If Luna was behind this ... but there was no answer, only silence.

"Lulu?" She whispered. Celestia stood up blindly, surprisingly light on her hooves. Everywhere she looked was just never ending blackness. If she could only see!

The white alicorn sunk back down to her haunches, shivering and sweating at the same time. Was she drugged? Was she still sleeping? Oh, of course! Celestia breathed a sigh of relief and shut her eyes with that thought.

I'm simply dreaming! If I can go back to sleep, I should wake up in the real world! At least that’s what she thought in her half asleep, terrified state. Celestia remained huddled in a tight ball, breathing in and out. In and out. Yet nothing happened.

She opened her eyes to the same blackness and fear. Celestia didn't speak. She stared straight ahead, in a way she might have done if surprised by a ghost. Her lips parted to say something, but no noise came out aside from a soft squeaking.

"Hello."

Celestia froze. She pulled herself up and faced in what she guessed was the direction of the voice. The sound of the voice was one of pure beauty and grace, like honey cascading over shining glass. It brought comfort to the tall mare, despite her situation.

"Who ... who are you? Where am I?" Celestia stuttered, despising the feeling of helplessness she had acquired.

The voice laughed, like ringing bells on a summer day. "Why, Celestia, I am called many things. Names that many ponies fear, while others welcome. But that doesn't matter now, does it? No, you are in the place I call The Bridge."

Celestia, feeling like a little filly, didn't even question how she knew her name. "The Bridge?" she whispered, drawing her mane from her muzzle.

"Yes, The Bridge," the being beside her replied slowly. "A wonderful place, it is. Everything and nothing that has ever existed lies here in the darkness. Yet, do you want to stay here?"

Celestia found her voice, her pulse racing. "No-I- no, I can't stay here."

The voice hummed in agreement. "Of course, I wouldn't want want to either dear. But you don't have to, Celestia. Now, would you like to follow me?"

Celestia cocked her ear, digging her hoof into what she hoped was the ground. "Follow you where?" she intoned carefully. Just who was this being? Why would she dream of such things?

The voice seemed to hesitate a moment with a wavering breath. "To the Afterlife." It was said so simply that Celestia almost did not register it.

Celestia found herself unable to breathe, like something had punched her in the stomach. She gasped, feeling even lighter on her hooves than before. It couldn't be, it was a dream!

The Afterlife.